YES IS MORE!
Ahead of a tasty gig aiming to instigate debate about the possibility of Welsh independence, Mared Gruffydd talks to one of its instigatiors, Super Furry Animals’ Cian Ciarán.
Remaining laidback throughout our discussion, Cian Ciarán, best known as supplying keys and electronics in Super Furry Animals, tells Buzz that when he communicates with the press, he prefers a conversation, as opposed to a formal interview. Yet he answers each question at length, demonstrating that he is evidently enthusiastic and passionate about our chosen topic: Wales’ pro-independence movement.
Ciarán will be joining a monumental lineup of Welsh musicians – including his bandmate Gruff Rhys, Charlotte Church, grime-punk band Astroid Boys and synthpop soloist Gwenno – at the Yes Is More! concert, held in Cardiff this month. According to Ciarán, “this event was born from the ideas of a mixture of creative people who wanted to galvanise and explore the discussion of Welsh independence.”
Everyone on the bill, he says, has similar opinions about that topic as himself. “I think the commonality between all of us is that we feel that life can be better in Wales, and that we’ve been let down by our politicians.” However, the evening isn’t about being patriotic; people are not going to be singing the anthem, or even waving Welsh flags.
“It’s not going to be like a rugby or football match. There will be no anti-English sentiment, we want everyone to come along, we want to be inclusive.”
Making it clear that the concert is aimed at individuals who are against, or uncertain about, the independence movement, as well as those already in favour, Ciarán explains that the whole point of the event is to instigate debate. “Hopefully we can have a proper discussion. There are so many unanswered questions about the process of independence. There are some complex issues and nobody’s under the illusion that it is going to happen overnight.”
Ciarán believes that the attitude towards independence in Wales has changed in recent years, particularly due to the Scottish and Catalan independence referendums, and more recently because of Brexit. “I’m not saying that if Wales were to be independent, all our issues would be solved and everything would be alright. But at the same time, I can’t see how things would be worse than the shitshow that’s going on at the minute with Brexit. There was a recent poll by Sky, asking people from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland if they think it would be more likely for their countries to become independent now after Brexit, and about 36% of the Welsh voted ‘Yes’.”
This is a distinctly high percentage, especially since recent studies have shown that less than 20% of Welsh people support independence. However, Ciarán again emphasizes that there is an appetite for change among the Welsh population. “Sovereign equality is one of the founding principles of the UN, and I don’t think we have it in Wales,” he says simply. “In 1941, Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter citing that all peoples have the right to self-determination, a right reaffirmed by the UN in 1966. Wales and Scotland are still waiting for this.”
We finish our conversation by discussing the Welsh language, and exploring how aspects of Welsh identity and culture are all pieces of the jigsaw puzzle that is the independence movement. “The Welsh language is something that deserves respect, but you don’t have to speak Welsh to be a ‘real’ Welshman. We’re all equal.”
Ciarán adds that the most important thing is to focus on improving people’s lives in Wales; in essence, this is what the pro-independence movement is driven by. “We’re aiming to have a debate about what kind of Wales people want. Wales could do so much better. Day by day, I think the case for independence is getting stronger.”
Yes Is More!, Tramshed, Cardiff, Fri 15 Feb. Tickets: £16.50. Info: 029 2023 5555 / www.tramshedcardiff.com